Are you planning a visit to Modena? There are enough things to do in Modena, Italy, to stay at least for a couple of days. It’s a mecca of food, it has some unique museums (like the Ferrari museum!) and its a very lively town. Let’s take a look at some of the best things to do in Modena.
Are you planning a trip to Modena?
Check out the best tours, activities and hotels in Modena so that you make the most out of your time!
Best tours and experiences in Modena:
1. Ferrari Museums tickets (Modena and Maranello museums)
2. Pavarotti Museum Skip the Line Ticket + Audioguide
3. Acetaia Tour and Balsamic Vinegar Tasting
4. Market Tour and Cooking Class
5. Modena Private Walking Tour
Best hotels in Modena:
1. Best Western Premier Milano Palace (High-end)
2. Hotel Estense Modena (Mid-range)
3. B&B Hotel Modena
Things to Do in Modena, Italy
Modena is a beautiful town in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy, halfway between Bologna and Parma.
Though many people visit it as a day trip from Bologna, I actually recommend staying in Modena for at least a night. I’ve traveled a lot in Italy and Modena is definitely one of my favorite towns!
And if you don’t have enough time, I would actually switch and spend one night less in Bologna to stay a night in Modena.
The buildings of the historic center are all painted in yellow, melon and ochre, in pastel tonalities, giving it a lively and soft appearance at the same time. Its streets are full of restaurants and cafes, which become very lively, especially on the weekends. There are also a couple of squares full of ambience and good gelaterias.
If you are a foodie, you will love it. You can eat in bith the old market as well as in one of the top restaurants in Italy.
If you are into cars, even more. The Ferrari museum will be an unforgettable experience.
You can even visit Luciano Pavarotti’s house in Modena.
With so many things to do in Modena, you should absolutely add it to your Italy itinerary.
Things to See in Modena: The Best Museums
While traveling in Italy you will have lots of opportunities to visit art museums displaying old masterpieces. It can be amazing, but maybe after a while you had enough of it and can’t really take in more and really appreciate it.
If you are up for a change, Modena has some cool and different museums you shouldn’t miss. The Ferrarri Museum and Luciano Pavarotti House are the top ones. You also have the Museo della Figurina, if you are a fan of the collectible stickers. And if you haven’t have enough of art yet, you can always visit Palazzo Dei Musei.
Enzo Ferrari Museum
If you love cars and races, a visit to the Enzo Ferrari Museum will be the one of the top things to do in Modena.
The museum holds and exhibition of cars and engines. It’s divided in two parts. One of them showcases Ferrari models through the years. It also shows a short film on the life of Enzo Ferrari.
The other one is the home where he was born and his father’s workshop. There you will see the exhibitions of Ferrari motors, logos, and of the life of Enzo.
You can also take a picture inside a Ferrari, but at an extra cost.
The museum is relatively small, though, and you should complete the Ferrari experience by visiting the other museum in Maranello. You can buy a combined ticket and there’s a shuttle that can take you there from this museum to the other one at an extra cost.
This museum (the Enzo Ferrari Museum of Modena) is located just out of the city center. You can easily reach it by walking. I don’t recommend to visit by car (and there’s no need for it anyhow), since the parking space is very limited.
Buy here a Ferrari Museum Ticket Combo: It includes both Modena and Maranello Museums.
You can also considerying buying a rountrip ticket between both museums (a taxi costs around 90 euros one-way!).
Luciano Pavarotti’s House
If you are an opera fan, a visit to Luciano Pavarotti’s house is one of the best things you can do in Modena. Pavarotti was born in Modena, and this country house is where he spent the last years of his life.
While you walk around the house you will hear recordings of his operas and arias. The rooms are filled with personal items, costumes he wore at his shows, photographs, awards and letters.
Pavarotti was not only an amazing tenor but a talented painter as well. You can appreciate some of his painting at the museum.
Buy here a Pavarotti Museum Ticket: You get to skip the line and it includes an audioguide.
Museo della Figurina
The Museo della Figurina is dedicated to the Panini sticker collection. Remember the Panini soccer sticker collections when you were young? Today they are a world wide company selling stickers in 120 countries, but they originated in Modena.
There is a permanent exhibition where you can see the evolution of the stickers from its birth in the 19th century to the present day. From time to time, they also have temporary exhibitions dedicated to different themes. In addition to the stickers, they also exhibit similar items in terms of technique and size, such as pocket calendars, cigarette cards, letter seals, children’s magazines.
If you used to collect them or you are traveling with your kids, you shouldn’t miss a visit to this museum! Entrance is free.
Palazzo Dei Musei
The Palazzo Dei Musei is a palace that houses several museums displayed around a courtyard.
There you will find the Estense Gallery, the Estense University Library, the Giuseppe Graziosi Plaster Cast Gallery, the Modena Municipal Historic Archives, the Roman Lapidary of the Civic Museums, and the Luigi Poletti Civic Art Library.
The most important one is the Estense Gallery, which features the art collection of the Dukes of Este, who ruled Modena some centuries ago.
The exhibition takes place in the elegant rooms of the palace, where you can admire paintings by El Greco, Velazquez and Cornegliano.
Food Related Experiences in Modena
So what to do in Modena besides visiting museums? Eating and exploring it’s gastronomical scene! Modena is actually considered one of the best places in Italy for food.
Balsamic vinegar, for example, originated in Modena, and can only be produced there or in Reggio Emilia. Parmesan cheese, Parmigiano Reggiano, was born in this area as well, cand can only be produced in Modena, Parma, Bologna or Reggio Emilia.
Besides that, in Modena you can eat at one of the best restaurants in Italy, explore their food market, and more.
Visit a Balsamic Vinegar Producer
Did you know that balsamic vinegar originated several centuries ago in Modena?
Visit one of the famous balsamic vinegar producers located in the countryside of Modena and do a tour of their factory.
You will learn, for example, that in old times they would start a batch when a baby was born. It would ferment for years, and when the baby became and adult, it was part of the dowry at the time of marriage.
Visiting a balsamic vinegar producer is one of the most interesting things to do in Modena. It was actually my favorite part of my visit to the town. You can read more here about my visit to the Acetaia Giusti (the oldest producer in the world), including how to get there and their opening times.
If you are into food, you will love it. You will even get to try a top-class 25-year old balsamic vinegar, and some unique ones as well, such as truffle or raspberry-flavored ones.
Book here an Acetaia Tour and Balsamic Vinegar Tasting
Have lunch at Mercato Albinelli (Modena Food Market)
The Mercato Albinelli is a traditional old food market in Modena. You can find all sorts of fresh produce there, and if you like to cook, you’ll probably wish you lived in Modena.
Besides fruits and vegetables, you can find fungi porcini, truffles (maybe even fresh!), world-class Parmesan cheese, local balsamic vinegar, and more.
But the best part is that you can go there for lunch, dinner or grabbing a drink. There are several restaurants and bars inside the market, and you can sit on a shared space at the market.
You can find everything, from sourdough pizzas to local specialties sold by weight.
And don’t worry, even if the market closes on Sundays, and the produce stalls close in the afternoon, the restaurants do stay open every day until late in the evening.
For more details, you can read here everything about visiting the Mercato Albinelli.
If you are looking for a more complex experience, you can book here a Market Tour and Cooking Class. You will learn to make pasta and tiramisu using fresh ingredients from the market and pair it with a nice wine.
Gourmet dining at Osteria Francescana
One of the best things to do in Modena is to try some of the top restaurants of the town (and of Italy).
So if you want to try some of the best gastronomy of the region (and have the budget), you should not miss a visit to Osteria Francescana. It’s a 3-star Michelin restaurant ran by chef Massimo Botura. You might have seen him at Chef’s Table on Netflix.
Many people actually plan their trips to Italy around a visit to this restaurant.
From what I know, it’s a unique experience, of unique and vissionary flavors, that are part of a fantastic tasting menu.
A visit to Osteria Francescana had been high on our list of things to do in Italy for a long time. Unfortunately, in the end, we skipped it, since we are vegetarians and the menu didn’t have many options for us at the time. Instead we went to Erbavoglio (see below).
Dinner at Erbavoglio
If you want to eat at one of the best gourmet restaurants in Modena spending a fraction than what you would at Osteria Fracescana, this is the place to go.
Erbavoglio serves delicious and creative dishes, all vegetarian. You can get starters like eggs cooked at a low temperature with truffles, pecorino foam and asparragus. Or mains like roasted mushrooms with dill, cashews, corn and saffron.
You can either order a la carte or get the tasting menu. I loved the food and totally recommend it.
Eat a Gelato at Bloom or Gioelia
While in Modena, don’t miss the chance to taste a good gelato with flavors of the region. You have two options very near the main avenue: Bloom and Gioelia. Both were creamy and delicious.
If you want to taste something unique, I recommend getting the option at Bloom which comes with balsamic vinegar syrup!
Explore the Streets of Modena
Exploring the streets of Modena might not need much of an introduction. It would be hard to miss any of the major landmarks of the city, but just in case here is what is what, so that you know what you are seeing.
Don’t want to miss anything? Book here a Modena Private Walking Tour.
Piazza Grande
To begin exploring the streets of Modena, you should first head to the Piazza grande, which is the main square.
All the main events of the city have taken place here through the centuries. They have buried their patron Saint here, built their cathedral and declared Modena a City-Republic at some point in history. It was also the place where they carried out executions, and where they used to have an open-air market once a week for several centuries (on the same day as they had the executions, so that people could see the power of the authorities).
But most of all, it has always been the main meeting place for the people of Modena. The social life would take place here, from meetings, to gossiping, to chatting about goings-on in the city.
Nowadays, it’s the center of the city, with the cathedral on one side and the Palazzo Comunale (the City Hall) on the other. It’s surrounded by cafes, restaurants and shops.
The Duomo
Located at the Piazza Grande, you will find the most iconic building of Modena, the Duomo (the cathedral), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The construction of the Duomo started in 1099, to keep the remains of Saint Geminianus, the patron of Modena. It was completed only around 300 years later. It was built in Romanesque style, and on the relief of the facade, you can admire the story of the Genesis.
Inside, you can also find the Museum of the Cathedral. The museum shows fragments of sculptures from the cathedral and other earlier buildings from Roman times.
If you visit the cathedral on a hot day, make sure to take a shawl to cover your shawls if you are wearing a sleeveless shirt. Me and several other women were asked to leave the cathedral because of this.
Torre Ghirlandina
Right next to the cathedral, you will find the Ghirlandina tower, a symbol of Modena, which was built for defensive purposes. It’s 88 meters high, which you can climb and get a panoramic view of the city.
The top of the tower is decorated with two ghirlande (marble railings), from where it gets its name.
But the view from the outside is also something you should pay attention to. The tower is actually slightly leaning! This is because of the terrain in which it was built.
Palazzo Ducale
The Palazzo Ducale is one of the biggest and most outstanding buildings of Modena.
It used to be the palace where the Dukes of Modena lived a couple of centuries ago. If you are interested in palaces and baroque architecture, you will love the vast and elegant Golden Room, with its gold-laminated rooms.
Nowadays, the palace is the headquarters of the Italian Military Academy. It can be visited only with a guided tour on Saturdays and Sundays upon reservation. Tours are generally in Italian, though they can be organized in English if there are enough participants.
The Umbrella Street
This street will be hard to miss since it’s a side street of the main street, very close to the center. Head there if you are looking for some colors or a nice place to take pictures.
Final Thoughts
As you can see there is enough to see and do in Modena, Italy. Some people go on a day trip from Bologna, but I recommend spending a couple of days there.
Besides the beauty of its street and ochre buildings, what I loved about it is that there are many different and unconventional things to do. So for sure it’s a destination that you will remember.
If you are planning a trip around the region, I highly recommend you visiting Parma as well. Balsamic vinegar is to Modena like Parmiggiano Reggiano is to Parma, so it’s a top destination for foodies as well.
Traveling between towns in Emilia Romagna is quite easy as there are trains to most places. Consider obtaining an Italian SIM card as it can make your experience easier, especially since it will allow you to use apps like Google Maps.
